TFA101

My dad made a deal with me, and I might get the tank sooner than I thought (but I have to sell all my current fish and my two tanks...) Anyways, I have a couple questions I need answered:

1. My new tank will be holding tiger barbs now and I spotted both gold and standard versions @ PetSmart (very healthy specimens). Will the two subspecies shoal together?

2. I saw some silver hatchets too and I was wondering if they'd fall victim to the nippy tendencies of the tiger barbs even if I added the barbs last to reduce the risk? (adding them is a debate for me at the moment)

3. Red Tail Sharks wont wreak havoc on Tiger Barbs as they'll just nip right back, true?

4. Fish from the same genus when it comes to some cyprinids should not be added together, so if I wanted a flying fox plus my red tail? I'm guessing this aint ok?

5. FINALLY.... algae eater suggestions? Otos and maybe a flying fox are a couple possibilities for me, any other suggestions before I get the green light from my dad?

Butterfly

1) they are the same fish just different color and they will school/shoal together. Many times fish go by shape when they decide who to swim with.

2) I would think they would be a little fast for the tiger barbs.

3) RTS and Tiger Barbs usually inhabit different levels of the tank so they should be ok.

4) Don't know

5) Otos have a better chance of survival if they go into a more mature tank.
Flying Fox (make sure it is a real flying Fox not chinese/siamese algae eater), or a bristlenose are bot options. If you want them for algae control you might want to wait several weeks to introduce them to the tank. If they get used to being fed they may not eat algae should it appear.
Please take into consideration what the tank size is going to be when choosing fish.
Hope that helps
Carol

tkfury

I'm curious to know either or not hatchets would be compatible in a tank with tiger barbs and a single RTS. I've been thinking a nice 55/75g with a RTS, bristlenose pleco and a nice school of tiger barbs but I'd like to find something else to fill the tank in.

TFA101

the clerk at my LFS said most other barbs such as rosies (long fin or standard), mossy barb (or green tiger barb), most catfish, and small cichlids.

tkfury

Hm, I have to say I was already thinking of the green tiger barbs, the tigers will be the main feature of the tank (given the size of the tank, I'd perfer to have a school of 12+ so they still out number any other school). I was actually looking at, I believe they are called odessa barbs? They seem to need cooler water so best to keep looking for more options. I'll definally have to look into some cichlids as well as the rosies. Thanks a lot ^_^